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by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852)

Quick! We have but a second
Language: English 
Quick! we have but a second, 
Fill round the cup while you may; 
For time, the churl, hath beckon'd, 
And we must away, away! 
Grasp the pleasure that's flying, 
For oh, not Orpheus' strain 
Could keep sweet hours from dying, 
Or charm them to life again. 
Then, quick! we have but a second, 
Fill round the cup while you may! 
For Time, the churl hath beckon'd, 
And we must away, away. 

See the glass, how it flushes, 
Like some young Hebe's lip, 
And half meets thine, and blushes 
That thou shouldst delay to sip. 
Shame, oh shame unto thee, 
If ever thou see'st that day, 
When a cup or lip shall woo thee, 
And turn untouch'd away! 
Then, quick! we have but a second, 
Fill round, fill round while you may, 
For Time, the churl, hath beckon'd, 
And we must away, away! 

Text Authorship:

  • by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Timothy Hoekman , "Quick! We have but a second", 2010, published 2011 [ voice, clarinet and piano ], from Three Irish Folksongs, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]

Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2020-09-14
Line count: 24
Word count: 142

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